kristlik
12-23-2006, 04:18 AM
Hi Todd,
I’ve just started playing the Bass recently, but have casually played acoustic finger style guitar over the last 10 years (and during my school years I played the piano, organ, accordion and flute). My only real problem with the guitar is that my fingers are so thick that that I am just barely able to fret one string at a time (I also play the Piano a bit, and my fingers are so thick that I am unable to play between the black keys like most players can); but with the Bass my thick fingers really haven’t been a problem. Did I mention that I really love playing the Bass?
Having played finger style guitar for some time, it is fairly easy for me to learn the “steps” to playing a song; but I really want to learn how to play the bass, not just play songs on the bass (if that makes sense).
I’ve purchased both your DVDs, and have started the “Technique Builders” DVD; it has been very helpful. But I was hoping that you might be able to give me a bit more complete, specific and balanced information to help me set up my practice sessions.
Time:
I suffered a spinal and knee injury a few years back (two back surgeries two knee surgeries) that has left me crippled and unable to work, so as long as I don’t make my practice sessions too long, I am able to spend a considerable amount of time practicing. We have three teenage daughters, but when they are in school, and when I am not in school (I take one class a semester—4 more classes to complete my bachelors at UNL), I have a large block of time that I can use for practice. Having read your “practice document”, I would say that I could fairly easily schedule three to five 45-60 min sessions per day. My practice sessions are not only fun but therapeutic—the Bass is so much fun to play that it helps me keep my mind off the back pain.
Tools I need help with:
Your 5 basic pillars of bass education:
1.Technique
2. Reading
3. Line creation (walking bass lines)
4. Fingerboard Harmony – Vertical and Horizontal approaches. (Which is basically knowing the neck and applying theory.)
5. Melodic - soloing, improvisation
I could really use some specific suggestions for materials that you would recommend to use for each of these categories, as well as a suggestion as to how much time, or how to gage the time that I would need for each category.
As far as reading goes, I can read music, but have mostly dealt with the treble clef for the last two decades; but shouldn’t take long to get fluent on the bass clef again.
Goals:
No delusions, just want to have fun with this. All three of my teenage daughters enjoy to sing; my oldest daughter (16) plays the piano, trumpet and is also starting the bass; my youngest daughter plays the violin and piano; my nephew, who is also living with us, plays the lead guitar: I just think it would be fun to play together with my family (just need to find a drummer—maybe my middle daughter :) ). If possible, it would also be nice to be able to play along with the praise and worship band at my church—or another small band similar to these.
It would really be nice to be able to develop the skills that would allow me play along with my family, in my church, or with some other small band, as quickly as possible. But unfortunately this will have to be a self taught endeavor for at least another year or so; which is why I really need some good advice from you.
If it helps; my interests in music would include: Blues, Jazz & bluesy Jazz, Reggae, some contemporary music, folk, world, R&B, Classic Rock n Roll and of course contemporary praise and worship.
Sorry for such a long post; just tried to anticipate all the information that you would need to give me specific and useful feedback.
Thanks for your help, and Merry Christmas,
Kristlik
I’ve just started playing the Bass recently, but have casually played acoustic finger style guitar over the last 10 years (and during my school years I played the piano, organ, accordion and flute). My only real problem with the guitar is that my fingers are so thick that that I am just barely able to fret one string at a time (I also play the Piano a bit, and my fingers are so thick that I am unable to play between the black keys like most players can); but with the Bass my thick fingers really haven’t been a problem. Did I mention that I really love playing the Bass?
Having played finger style guitar for some time, it is fairly easy for me to learn the “steps” to playing a song; but I really want to learn how to play the bass, not just play songs on the bass (if that makes sense).
I’ve purchased both your DVDs, and have started the “Technique Builders” DVD; it has been very helpful. But I was hoping that you might be able to give me a bit more complete, specific and balanced information to help me set up my practice sessions.
Time:
I suffered a spinal and knee injury a few years back (two back surgeries two knee surgeries) that has left me crippled and unable to work, so as long as I don’t make my practice sessions too long, I am able to spend a considerable amount of time practicing. We have three teenage daughters, but when they are in school, and when I am not in school (I take one class a semester—4 more classes to complete my bachelors at UNL), I have a large block of time that I can use for practice. Having read your “practice document”, I would say that I could fairly easily schedule three to five 45-60 min sessions per day. My practice sessions are not only fun but therapeutic—the Bass is so much fun to play that it helps me keep my mind off the back pain.
Tools I need help with:
Your 5 basic pillars of bass education:
1.Technique
2. Reading
3. Line creation (walking bass lines)
4. Fingerboard Harmony – Vertical and Horizontal approaches. (Which is basically knowing the neck and applying theory.)
5. Melodic - soloing, improvisation
I could really use some specific suggestions for materials that you would recommend to use for each of these categories, as well as a suggestion as to how much time, or how to gage the time that I would need for each category.
As far as reading goes, I can read music, but have mostly dealt with the treble clef for the last two decades; but shouldn’t take long to get fluent on the bass clef again.
Goals:
No delusions, just want to have fun with this. All three of my teenage daughters enjoy to sing; my oldest daughter (16) plays the piano, trumpet and is also starting the bass; my youngest daughter plays the violin and piano; my nephew, who is also living with us, plays the lead guitar: I just think it would be fun to play together with my family (just need to find a drummer—maybe my middle daughter :) ). If possible, it would also be nice to be able to play along with the praise and worship band at my church—or another small band similar to these.
It would really be nice to be able to develop the skills that would allow me play along with my family, in my church, or with some other small band, as quickly as possible. But unfortunately this will have to be a self taught endeavor for at least another year or so; which is why I really need some good advice from you.
If it helps; my interests in music would include: Blues, Jazz & bluesy Jazz, Reggae, some contemporary music, folk, world, R&B, Classic Rock n Roll and of course contemporary praise and worship.
Sorry for such a long post; just tried to anticipate all the information that you would need to give me specific and useful feedback.
Thanks for your help, and Merry Christmas,
Kristlik